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• west
  west

  noun

  a cardinal point of the compass, 90° to the left when facing north, corresponding to the point where the sun is seen to set. W
• West
  West

  noun

  Benjamin, 1738–1820, U.S. painter, in England after 1763.
• West.
  West.

  abbreviation

  western.

west

¹ American  

[west] / wɛst /

noun

1. a cardinal point of the compass, 90° to the left when facing north, corresponding to the point where the sun is seen to set. W

2. the direction in which this point lies.

3. (usually initial capital letter) a region or territory situated in this direction, especially the western part of the U.S., as distinguished from the East.

   a vacation trip through the West.

4. the West,

   1. the western part of the world, as distinguished from the East or Orient; the Occident.

   2. the non-Communist countries of Western Europe and the Americas.

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adjective

1. directed or proceeding toward the west.

2. coming from the west.

   a west wind.

3. lying toward or situated in the west.

4. Ecclesiastical. designating, lying toward, or in that part of a church opposite to and farthest from the altar.

adverb

1. to, toward, or in the west.

   The car headed west.

2. from the west.

   The wind blew west.

idioms

1. go west, to die.

West ² American  

[west] / wɛst /

noun

1. Benjamin, 1738–1820, U.S. painter, in England after 1763.

2. Jerome Alan Jerry, born 1938, U.S. basketball player, coach, and executive.

3. Mae, 1893–1980, U.S. actress.

4. Nathanael Nathan Wallenstein Weinstein, 1902?–40, U.S. novelist.

5. Paul, 1930–2015, U.S. poet, essayist, and novelist, born in England.

6. Dame Rebecca Cicily Isabel Fairfield Andrews, 1892–1983, English novelist, journalist, and critic, born in Ireland.

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West. ³ American  

Or west.

abbreviation

1. western.

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west ¹ British  

/ wɛst /

noun

1. one of the four cardinal points of the compass, 270° clockwise from north and 180° from east

2. the direction along a parallel towards the sunset, at 270° clockwise from north

3. (often capital) any area lying in or towards the west

4. cards (usually capital) the player or position at the table corresponding to west on the compass

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adjective

1. situated in, moving towards, or facing the west

2. (esp of the wind) from the west

adverb

1. in, to, or towards the west

2. archaic (of the wind) from the west

3. informal

   1. to be lost or destroyed irrevocably

   2. to die

West ² British  

/ wɛst /

noun

1. the western part of the world contrasted historically and culturally with the East or Orient; the Occident

2. (formerly) the non-Communist countries of Europe and America contrasted with the Communist states of the East Compare East

3. 1. that part of the US lying approximately to the west of the Mississippi

   2. (during the Colonial period) the region outside the 13 colonies, lying mainly to the west of the Alleghenies

4. (in the ancient and medieval world) the Western Roman Empire and, later, the Holy Roman Empire

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adjective

1. 1. of or denoting the western part of a specified country, area, etc

   2. ( as part of a name )

      the West Coast

west ³ British  

/ wɛst /

noun

1. Benjamin. 1738–1820, US painter, in England from 1763

2. Kanye , born 1977, US rap singer and producer; his albums include The College Dropout (2004) and Graduation (2007)

3. Mae. 1892–1980, US film actress

4. Nathanael, real name Nathan Weinstein. 1903–40, US novelist: author of Miss Lonely-Hearts (1933) and The Day of the Locust (1939)

5. Dame Rebecca, real name Cicily Isabel Andrews (née Fairfield ). 1892–1983, British journalist, novelist, and critic

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west More Idioms  

1. see go west.

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Etymology

Origin of west

First recorded before 900; from Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch, German west, Old Norse vestr; compare French ouest, Old French from Old English

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

west West West.

For nearly a decade, Isik and her daughter Esra, 26, have thrown themselves into protesting against the mining projects slowly ravaging Mugla province, which lies several hundred kilometres west of Antalya.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

Amid the Santa Ana winds, the National Weather Service in San Diego is warning of temperatures well above average this weekend west of the mountains.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

“For me, it’s always been about the people of the west Valley and making sure we have a voice.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

Next week could see low pressure systems spin in again from the west but uncertainty remains.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

I calculated two sample orbits—one with a rocket launching from the east, and the other from the west.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson

Giving some background ahead of the song “Lubbock or Leave It,” Maines talked about how she loved her hometown in West Texas until she left it.

From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2026

“Paranormal Activity” is doing strong business on Broadway, and “A Ghost in Your Ear” recently opened in the West Village.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

She said Eisenkot would likely enjoy Israeli public support for cracking down on extremist settlers, who have attacked Palestinians in the West Bank with virtual impunity.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

West Valley League rivals Taft and Cleveland will battle for the City Section Open Division championship at 6 p.m.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

And that was how I found out that Mami and Baby were West African manatees.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

“And maybe I’ll meet a Kardashian or a West. Maybe this will be what skyrockets my career and my life.”

From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2024

Perhaps most importantly, Boutt points out, "What we see in the Dry Andes is representative of hydrology in all extremely arid regions -- including the U.S. West. It's not limited to lithium mining, either."

From Science Daily ● Apr. 3, 2024

"But I'm sad for the young men, for everyone, who've been killed. We certainly don't need war with the West. Our people have seen nothing but war, war, war all their lives."

From BBC ● Feb. 22, 2024

“Only a small fraction of what’s happening is reported to even us and then we report to you in the West. Not many people know there is a revival going on in Iran.”

From Washington Times ● Nov. 17, 2023

“Only in the West. But still the ratio can’t widen in their favor.”

From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison

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